Cleat feeding mechanism



June 3, 1952 D. G. KlNGsLEY ETAL 2,599,460

CLEAT FEED-ING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1949 June 3,1952 ne. KINGsLr-:Y ErAL 24,599,460

CLEAT F EEDING MECHANISM y Filed Jan. 14, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2ooooooooooooo ,il #Il Milf! ATTORNEYS.

June 3, 1952 D. G. KINGSLEY l-:rAL

CLEAT FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 14, 1949 INVENTOR.aviarhz'yrly gfor [M10/Va am m, 771W #M A fr0/iwf Ys.

Patented June 3, 1952 UNI-TED; erger CLEAT FEEDING MECHANISM David-Gr.tKingsley, Mountain Lakes,-and Clifford- 1 J. if MacNamara, Dover,

N. J., assignors to StaplingMachines Co., Rockaway, 4N.J., a co1'-`poratiofrof Delaware:

1 1 The present invention'relates to apparatusior- 1 feeding cleats tobox-making machines for mak ing boxes `loy stapling and/or wiring-boxparts to# geth'er. More particularly vthe invention relates l toapparatus -for taking prearranged cleats from. -5 r a mitering' sawmill,stacking them, and delivering them one at a time with theirmitered .endsproperly 'arrangedv to f conveying mechanism of the box-making machine."

A box-making machine of the -typewithWh-ichf 10. the present invention*is vparticularlyl useful, is shown in RosenmundUps. Patent No."2,304,510, iSSuedfDecemberS, 19425 Such a machine staples cleats 'Atolside material-,- andsimultaneously' staples binding Wire to theboxpartse Conveying l5;

mechanism including a track-for the cleats, and conveyor' bands withspacerJ elements *move the A box-partsto andthroug-h thestapling` partof theAVU machine. The cleats must be properly positior'ied-`With-reference'tolthe side 1materia1=- for-'ethe'lsta-f 20.1-

pling'operatiom Tliat-is,'-the`fc1eat endsiWl-iich 1^ are usually'miteredy must l:uniformlyface `up or! dovvn as desired, andl must 'li"proper-1y between the spacingeleinents earried'by' the conveyor:

Thepresent practice of Ihandling cleats `toolof- 25- tain` theVdesirediprearrangement,is tofsta'ckithe? cleats on cleatsupply--'tr1'1c1Is"'a-s2the"cleatsiarede livered" from 'the Asawrnilllbutwithout:regard 'to the'larrangement ofA the Amiteredfends=Tli clea/supplytrucksarethen moved to a position-'adja 30 cent ltheWi-nputiend'ofthe boxemaking machine- Where 'anoperator manually lplaces-lthecleatsfon the `tra'cksbetvv'een theA constantly moving `-spafc fingelerriei-i-ts:l

This manualioperation requires considerable@ j35 experience, Kski-1lan'ddeitterity onfth'eVV part 'of-th# cleat layer, to insure the properdisposition -of f the' -cleatsl#betweeni the spacing-elements: .-1 Theoperation 'has =-be`comg-increasingly diiicult-beL--I caus'e'of-A-thehigh-speed at Whichithe' conveyors 240'rv move? timeffthe' vcleatllayeri'-mis'piacesv a cleat the'lmaehinelhasto MbeIstOppe'd; for if l'the: Lcleatgoesv through the r machine misplaced the' boxc'r boxnpartrhastolbediscarded aswaste'. The problem is lin. vfact-r.soi-acute lthatsit.is now reus 45: ternary to use twocleat? layers 'and-a cleatstaclcerff:for'eachi'inachine, 'and'if 'thezfspeedz Were'still furtherincreasediiadditional:cleatzlayers:would bei. necessary, resultingin:'loi'vexr:productionzeiiiciencyfV and mcreased'zcost :of theboxeslfItis an :object of the inventionsto,` providetfcleat i. feedingapparatus lth'atilWillzreliahlyfee'dfzcleatszs to the; bo'X-maleing;machineLat whatever ratei: is calle dipon byfrth speed. of operation.ofzthe. :ma+y f.A chine'l. Another' nbjectfis iorrutili'zeL.th'ef,prear+i 551 2 i rangedA -condition --of the .l cleats asthey:aredeilivered from the-rniteringzsawmillttoinsure thdesiredarrangement` oi the miteredlends ofsth'eg-.f cleats inthebox-making machine.

r Another-Objectis Vto`4 providexapparatusi forni,- feeding lclea-ts toA100x-making \.machine'LWhich:L apparatus `requires a minimumotattentioni'andi which is vof simple construction andflexibleinzu`oper-ationg--so that a sing-1e Tmitering Ysawmillmayav be effectivelyused lto supply cleats :to severallboxffmaking machines. `Another'object-'is to 4provide stacking apparatus that-providesfioriconvenientL storageA vof cleats 'ina prearranged' condition,::for; :tsubsequentleuse Ion different lboxemakingf :maaa-4 chines;

To this'. end' the present invention `includesf-ra cleattray loading andstacking device-@located f at ther-output of--a `miteringsawmillforeauto' matically loading the 1 cleats "iniy prearrangedAconc'.- vdition4 on easily handled trays or racks;U Iliad:l dition, acleat'dispersing device. is located atathese' box-making machine 4fortaking the prearran'ged-* cleats "from-the racksl and stack-ingvthem-:alcove the tracks of the box-making machine sof thatl ythe cleatspacing and vmoving elements removeff successivelycleats from the bottomof the stackf.

Other `objects will be inlpart; obvious andinlf' part pointedv out byreference to the drawings inf which similar referenceY numerals refertosimilar parts throughout In-'the drawings-z Figure 1 isla sideelevationof/cleatreceivingf and trayniechanism for receivingcleats frmfamitering sawmill and for loading` the cleats lon*l cleat trays. Themitering saw-'table -is indicatedv by brokenlines;v

Figure 2 is a top plan view of'Figure 1;

Figure 3 isa longitudinal" veWof thev right;Y hand sideof'a box-makingmachineshowing'an'- automatic cleat dispensing device embodying-thinvention attached to the oppositeY or left-hand t side of the machineadjacent the input end of the machine;

\ Figure 4 is a top plan view, on a larger -scale,', of the cleatdispensing device vofFigureB, showing cleats, indicated by brokenlinesyvbeing con. veyed-'to vbox-parts-conveying elements' ofy -theleftandright hand sides of the box-making ma-i 0 chine;

Figure 5 is anzenlarged side elevation of "the,- cleat dispenser deviceviewed. from the lowerside of Figure e, showing loaded cleat traysstored-in, a Amagazine Vand showing also how-cleatoont veyorstremovevthe cleats -f-rom .the magazineand;

stack them in a hopper above tracks on the left and right hand sides ofthe box-making machine;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally alongthe line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, with some parts omitted forclearness, of the left hopper as viewed from the line l-T of Figure 5,showing a cleat, indicated by full lines, resting in a tilted positionupon a. two-level support prior to being moved by a cleat spacing andmoving element. This figure also shows, by broken lines, the cleat movedto its normal horizontal position; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end view of the left hopper taken from theright-hand side of Figure 7, showing a, safety gate to permit two cleatsto pass from the hopper at one time in the event of jamming.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the cleat tray loading mechanism comprisesthree sections, an upper bed generally indicated at B', a lower bed,generally indicated ,at B2, and an intermediate cleat turning section,generally indicated at B3, which connects the delivery end of the lowerbed. The upper bed projects beneath but lies close to the upper surfaceof the delivery table of a mitering sawmill indicated by broken lines S`in Figures 1 and 2, and upper cleat conveying surfaces of the upper bedcoincide with and are at the same level as the upper surface of thetable.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upper bed of the cleat tray loadingdevice is of open construction. It comprises fabricated side framework 5secured by horizontal cross ties 3 and supported by leg members 4. Itsreceiving end is supported by diagonal brace members 6 (Figure l)permanently fastened to legs 4 and to the outer end of framework 5. Theother end of side framework 5 is supported by and secured to the top ofupright members I extending upwardly from and secured to side framework23 of lower bed B2.

The upper bed B' supports between side framework 5 endless conveyorbelts 8, which are of the well-known V-belt construction. Belts 8 passover rearward idler pulleys 9 and over drive pulleys I 2, respectivelysupported on stationary shaft I and rotating shaft I3 respectivelymounted in suitable supports Il and bearings I4 secured to sideframework 5. The upper surfaces of the two belts 8 lie in the same planeas that of the miter ing saw table S, so that as cleats are pushedforwardly from mitering table S they are picked up and carried by belts8 without turning or otherwise misplacing the cleats.

To assure lateral alignment of the cleats while being carried forwardlyby belts 8, suitable side guides I are located adjacent belts 8 and arefastened to the inside of upright members I5 extending upwardly fromside framework 5. The guides I5 diverge at their receiving end and actto guide oncoming cleats into proper position between the guides I5. Thedelivery ends of guides I5 are aligned with and secured to parts of thecleat turning section B3.

Belts 8 `are driven as follows: pulleys I2 are keyed to shaft I3, whichis suitably driven by a sprocket 6I keyed to the shaft, and by a chain68 ruiming over the sprocket. Chain 88 is driven by a sprocket 59 keyedto a shaft 2l, suitably mounted in bearings 28 on side framework 23 ofthe lower bed. Shaft 27 itself is driven by a sprocket 51 keyed to theshaft 2l, and by a chain 55 which passes over the sprocket and over adrive sprocket 58 keyed to a shaft 3D mounted in suitable bearings 3!also on framework 23. The shaft 3!) in turn is driven by a sprocket 54keyed to the shaft, a chain 53 and a sprocket 5I, keyed to a shaft 5oextending from a speed reducer 48.

The speed reducer is driven through shafts 41 and 45 and coupling 49 bya suitable motor 40. With the foregoing construction belts -8 arecontinuously driven lat a constant speed so long as the loader is inoperation.

Cleats are received from the mitering saw table S bottom side up, andare continuously carried forward by the conveyor belts in this samearrangement, i. e., without turning the cleats endwise or axially. Thus,all the cleats are delivered by the upper bed to cleat turning sectionB3 with their then sloping ends facing upwardly.

Referring now to the cleat turning section, belts 8 carry the cleatsbeneath the upper sections of a pair of outer cleat guides 22. Thesecleat guides extend horizontally from their ends 22d, around pulleys I2,and vertically downward,

and terminate at 22a. They are supported by a fiat wide cross brace 28supported by two oppositely disposed narrow upstanding side members I8,spa-ced to permit the cleats to pass freely between thorn, but to keepthe cleats properly laterally aligned.

Side members 8 are secured to and supported by horizontal bars I9 setinto uprights 1.

Inner cleat guides 2l face the outer cleat guides and are secured tohorizontal bars I9. Cleat guides 2l extend from a low point vertically7upwardly to belts 8 and terminate at the belts to provide continuousguiding surfaces therewith. Cleat guides 22 and 2| extend upwardly,parallel to each other, and are spaced apart to provide a passage toreceive cleats from belts 8, but to prevent axial turning of the cleatsheld between the guides.

Cleat guides 22 extend upwardly beyond guides 2| from point 221), andfrom point 22h to point 22e the cleat guides 22 bend about pulleys I2and are spaced from belts 8 to provide a curved passage therewith. Thispassage conducts the cleats delivered by belts 8, preventsindiscriminate turning of the cleats in the passage, and imparts to eachcleat a quarter turn.

From point 22c to endsl 22d the cleat guides extend l,generally parallelto the top surface of the belts, but slightly upwardly to prevent warpedcleats from catching on the ends of the guides 22.

The cleat guides of cleat turner B3 open downwardly onto the lower bedB2, and onto a pair of V-belts 25 which remove the cleats one at a timefrom the stack of cleats in the guides and carry the cleats forwardly toa stacking tray or rack 38 (Figure 1).

To this end cleat guides 22 stop at point 22a sufliciently above belts25 to permit the bottom cleat that is resting on belts 25 to be movedforwardly from under the stack, but to prevent the cleat next above frombeing dragged forwardly with the bottom cleat. The spacing betweenguides 2I and 22 prevents the cleat above the bottom cleat from turningaxially as the latter cleat is carried forwardly by belts 25.

The speed of belts 8 of upper bed B1 is such as to take care of theoutput of the mitering saw. Belts 25, however, travel at a speedslightly greater than that of belts 8 to prevent cleats backing up.Belts 25 are positioned and driven as follows. They pass about forwarddrive pulleys 28 keyed to the drive shaft 30, and about rearward idlerpulleys 26 on shaft 21. These pulleys are of the same diameter as thepulleys The trays above the bottom tray merely rest one on the other.The rearward end of the bottom tray is supported on a cross plate member10 supported at each end by short uprights 1| secured to and extendingupwardly from base members B1. The forward end of the bottom tray issupported by cleats which have previously been deposited on belts 80.The trays are aligned laterally by a vertical plate 13 whose respectivevertical edges14and 15 provide stops against which the rearward ends ofthe trays of both magazines are pushed. The forward ends of the traysare laterally aligned by vertical angle irons 19, which form also stopsfor the forward ends of the trays to align the trays longitudinally. Alongitudinal vertical wall 12 divides the two magazines and is supportedat its rearward end by the plate 13, and at its forward end by atransverse member 16 fastened to upright members 11 extending upwardlyfrom and secured to base members 61 by bolts 18.

Referring to magazine M1, the trays thus aligned are supported so thatthey lie above and between belts 80 of the magazine, and are so arrangedthat when the last cleat of a load is conveyed from under the forwardend of the tray resting on the cleats, as shown in Figure 6, the forwardend of the tray drops between the belts permitting the tray to depositits full load on the belts and permitting the tray to fall free from themagazine, as shown in Figure 5.

The cleat that; is being moved from under the end of the tray it issupporting has a tendency to turn on its axis. To prevent such turning,as shown in Figure 6, guides 16a are provided just above the cleats, andaligned with belts 80. Guides 16a are secured to cross member 16. Theends 1Gb of the guides are turned upwardly so as not to catch ononcoming warped cleats, and stop short of the foremost cleat of the trayabove, so that when the front end of the tray 33 falls, the ends 16b donot touch the falling leading cleat. 'I'he space between guides 16a andbelts 80 is such as to allow free passage of properly positioned cleats,but is sufciently small to prevent axial turning of acleai-J locatedbetween the belts and guides.

For convenience in shifting the magazine from one place to another alongthe box-making machine, longitudinal base members 61 are secured to thelegs 68 by bolts 69 which pass through slots in the ends of the members61 so that by loosening the bolts the members 61 may be detached fromlegs 68, and the magazine as a unit may be withdrawn. Legs 58 aredemountably fastened by bolts 95 (Figure 5) to a bearing plate member 96positioned edgewise, and permanently secured to the outer side offramework of the box-making machine.

The belts 80 deliver the cleats to what are in effect hopper or stackingdevices that give the cleats another quarter turn, and stack them abovetracks T along which the cleats are moved by conveyor bands C of thebox-making machine.

Referring to Figure 5, the left hand hopper mechanism H will bedescribed. It is supported on legs 68 by means of upper and lowerhorizontal bars 98 demountably attached to legs 68 by bolts 99. Thelower bar 98 rests on top of plate member 96. Horizontal bars 98 notonly support the hopper, but also support cleat guiding parts to bedescribed.

Suitably bolted to bars S8 are end plates |00 that laterally aligncleats in the hopper. Bolted to end plates |00 by bolts |02 andextending inwardly from the end plates are sets of uppei` and lowersupporting bars |03 (Figures 4, 5 and 1), which supportl a pair of outercleat guides |04 (Figure 5) As shown in Figure 4, the cleat guides arealigned with belts 80, and as shown in Figure 5, they extend upwardlyfrom a point above one side of track T, thence on a path concentric withpulleys 8|, and back over belts 80, forming therewith a cleat guidewaysuch as described in connection with Figure 1. The guideway takes thecleats from belts 80, turns them through 90 and stacks them above trackT.

Inner cleat guides |0| are supported on bars 98 as shown in Figure 5.They are spaced opposite the outer cleat guides and their tapered endsextend upwardly to the horizontal centerline of pulleys 8|. They formwith cleat guides |04 a trough through which the cleats freely fall, butwhich holds the cleats in proper alignment above track T, and preventsaccidental axial turning of the cleats.

Side plates |05 (Figure 5) are bolted to the tops of end plates |00, andextend rearwardly to insure lateral alignment of the cleats as they moveunder outer cleat guides |04.

Inner cleat guides |0| are accurately aligned with the sides of track Tso that a cleat held against guides |0| will fall in proper position ontrack T. To insure the cleats being in Contact with guides |0| beforethe cleats drop onto track T, leaf springs |06 are secured to brackets|08 mounted on cleat'l guides |04. Springs |06 press inwardly againstthe cleats as shown in Figure 8 to hold them against inward cleat guides|0|.

In normal operation to start the cleat dispensing mechanism in operationthe operator will first ll the hopper dispenser with properly arrangedcleats and will then hold a loaded tray above the mechanism and permitit to drop and deposit its load on belts 80. The cleats thuspositioned-on belts support the forward ends of cleat trays that theoperator then piles one above the other in the magazine. When the belts80 are started, the friction between the belts 80 and the cleats is somuch greater than the friction between the cleats and the bottom traysupported by the cleats that the cleats move forwardly with the beltscontinuously to keep the hopper full ofv cleats. In normal operationbelts 80 are driven at a speed such as to tend to carry cleats forwardlyto the hopper at a rate slightly greater than the rate at which cleatsare removed from the bottom of the hopper as will be described.

As shown in Figures '1 and 8, the spacer and 'pusher element E securedto band C have lateral arms E extending over track C to engage therearward ends of the successive cleats to move them forwardly alongtrack T. The successive cleats as they are thus engaged are removed fromthe bottom of the stack of cleats in hopper H by being pushed from underthe stack, the forward end plate |00 serving to hold back all the cleatsabove the cleat being removed from the bottom.

In the event that two cleats move under the end wall |00, as may happenwhen warped cleats are used, the lower end of forward end plate |00 hasa hinged section or gate ||6 pivoted about a pin |I1 (Figure 8) in endplate 00. The gate is yieldingly held in its normal position by a spring|20 attached to a stop bar I9 carried by the gate H6, and at its otherend to a stud |2| on the lower end of the adjacent cleat guide |04. Stopbar ||9 extends beyond gate ||6 and contacts the edges of end plate |00and determines the normal position of the-gate as shown in Figuremachine by bolts |330, (Figure 3).

9 17.' The Ygate, .as shown in lFigure v8,'.fis finserted zin arectangularislot in :plate l 0|);

In :the event that two cleats force 'their Vway 4undergate |13 insteadof 'jamming and stopping 2.the mechanism or otherwise breaking it, .gatei| f| E :yields and moves to iits` dotted `line position `'as 4shown .inFigure .7 to permit Vtwo Vcleats to pass '-through. Thus, even thoughitheLeXtr-a cleat ywill lbel'discardedpi e., will not pass on''tothestapling mechanism, no damage will be doneto `the mechamsm.

fIthas 'been discovered 'that removal *of two cleatsat lonce may ybelargely eliminated 'by providing a two 'level support for thebottomcleat above Vtrack T. To accomplish this a plate |110-issecured'to'track T and'fis so positioned 'that the bottom Ycleatdelivered from thehopper `rests -at 'its 'forward yend on the track T,4but `its rearward end'tis'heldabove the track by plate -||f|las rshownin Figure v'7. When -a cleat drops on this twolevel support, the `weightlof the cleats above' invariably forces the front enddovvn and Athe-rearvward end up so that "the 4'arm lil' `always `fengages lthecleatbelow its fuppe'ren'd, and assures that arm-El cannot catch ftheunderside .of '-'the "cleat above rthat to be removed. l

-As 4the bottoml cleat is moved-forwardly beyond plate jl |-0, "thepressure of the cleats in the -stack -forces'the cleat down over V'thearm-E'j-that is removing the icleat and into its lliinal position within`the "arm Ey as lshown in dotted-.lines lin Figure'l.

Further .precaution is mad'efto' have the arm E engagey the'lcleatsbelow th'e top edge of the bevels'of the vcleats by Vholding arms Eagainst rising above a predetermined level. To accomplish this abar-HI(Figures 5 and 7) is secured :to the under surface of the-outer endsof.brackets ||2 supported from the lower outside surface of plate IfllrThe bar overhangs the arms E' and is spaced above the track T to permit`arm Ev topass under the bar but toprevent the arms Vfrom; risingVas"theyengage thecleats.Y

vThe above'constructionfeeds cleats continually from the L magazine to Athe stack ;of cleats'in -the hQpIl-er; 1 andthe cleats {are-continually-removed from ithe hopper "one `'by' one; VAI"by the spacer" -elementsand arek conveyed'alongthe track tothe stapling machine. Theintermittent tipping oscillation of the cleats in the stack above trackT caused by the bottom cleats successively rst resting on the plate andthen moving off the plate, keeps the cleats in the stack continuallyshifting, and this movement tends to prevent jamming of the cleats inthe stack.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the right dispensing hopper H1 is attachedto the right side of the conveyor mechanism of the box-making machine,as shown in Figure 4, by vertical plates |33 bolted to side frame 309 ofthe box-making The construction of hopper H1 is similar to that ofhopper H. Such differences as there are, are in the location of thecleat guides. The left hand cleat guides |22 correspond to cleat guides|04 of hopper H, but extend upwardly and rearwardly 1n the plane ofbelts 80. Right hand cleat guides |32 correspond to cleat guides IUI,but extend upwardly and rearwardly above the plane of belts 80.

Cleat guides |32 are supported from plate |33, and cleat guides |22 aresupported from a pair of horizontal bars |34 secured to end plates |35,suitably secured by bolts |36 to vertical plates |33.

As before, cleat guides |22 and |32 are aligned and form a channel ofpassageway recelving :cleats from section M22-'turning thelcleatsthrough 90, and stacking them ffabove .the right hand track T. Endplates and upper side plates |31 :secured :to and extending rearwardlyfrom the upper ends rofv plates |35 serve 'to' dkeep `the -c'leats iinthe .channel 1in "lateral alignment.v

inasmuch vas the 'space' between the pulleys A8 I lthe :section IMZ, andthe dispensing hopper fH1 is avariable distancedepe'nding on -thewidthof fthe 'box being made, structure lis provided toV v`.bridge the:gap between the delivery point '-of ibelts`=80 4an'dthereceivinglpointrof guides |22. fthe :present `embodiment this is accomplished bylex- -tending lgu'ides 422 irearward, as shown,` and :by

providing rails ||4supp`orted from the inner-longitudinalmemberslll,`Rails |4 lie inside guides |-2l 2'and when -hopper H1 vis mountedclo'sefto hop- 'per as lwhen la 'narrow -box part-is beingfabrijcated,tlierails and guidesemaylbe effectivelytelescoped. Thelength of the rails and Aguides is such asjto permit the lclosestmounting-:of hop;- ,rpers 'Hamid ,that may befexptaardto 001V??'betwerifhemihe*sreatstisriace that "may Lbe :expectedwhen' hoppers Handi-I1 aremounted farthest "from each other,4

:Sincej many l embodiments might *be j'made fof ythe Vpresentinvention'andfsince many changes might jbe made "jin the embodimentdisclosed herein, vit is to 'be understood that 'the foregoingdescription vis to be interpreted .as illustrative onlyfand 4no1-,fin 'a'limiting s er'is'e.y

1. ,eieatj'feedingapparatus ,for feeding cleats Y `to ,a "stapling4r{machin'e' 'chavingcleatipus'hing V elements moving along'a ^path.,and'- cieatfs'ubponting ,means fgextendingpar'allel Vto said` path.for sup- `po rting1cle1a'ts` Amoved 4Lbysaid elements, fin combination;upstanding side guides holdingl against Alateral ^m,o' ven'1e nt.Vpleats' stacked 'above ,and alisnedjwth'rsaid cleaesupportinelmeans, 'anLup- Standngendsuide'for preventinsiorward move- .merit'ofa'll-butthiebottm of saidistacls io cleats. whereby assuccessive.cleat-pushingelemntsientgage successivefbtlom' cleats said.cleats fare *movedrombeneath the stacksstationarycleatsupportrisysuriacepositioned ,above Saidcleatlsuplyqorting"'I'n'eans rearward of fthe 'Vertical center linel ofsaid stack of cleats and 'below "the path of said cleat-pushing elementsfor maintaining the rearward end of the bottom cleat of the stack abovesaid cleat-supporting means while leaving its forward end on thecleat-supporting means, thereby to cause the successive cleat-pushingelements to engage the ends of the successive bottom cleats below thetop edges thereof.

2. Cleat feeding apparatus for feeding cleats to a stapling machinehaving cleat-pushing elements moving along a path and cleat-supportingmeans extending parallel to said path for supporting cleats moved bysaid elements, in combination, upstanding side guides holding againstlateral movement cleats stacked above and aligned with saidcleat-supporting means, an upstanding end guide for preventing forwardmovement of all but the bottom of said stack of cleats, whereby assuccessive cleat-pushing elements engage successive bottom cleats saidcleats are moved from beneath the stack, a cleat-supporting surfacelocated beneath said stack and below the path of said cleat-pushingelements but above said cleat-supporting means for holding the bottomcleat of said stack raised to maintain the top edge of the rearward endof said cleat above the path of said cleat-pushing elements thereby topreclude the possibility of a cleatpushing element engaging two cleatsat a time.

3. Cleat feeding apparatus for feeding cleats to a stapling machinehaving cleat-pushing elements moving along a path and cleat-supportingmeans extending parallel to said path for supporting cleats moved bysaid elements, in combination, upstanding side guides holding againstlateral movement cleats stacked above and aligned with saidcleat-supporting means, an upstanding end guide for preventing forwardmovement of all but the bottom of said stack of cleats, whereby assuccessive cleat-pushing elements engage successive bottom cleats saidcleats are moved from beneath the stack, a cleat-supporting surfacelocated beneath said stack and below the path of said cleat-pushingelements but above said cleat-supporting means for holding the bottomcleat of said stack raised to maintain the Ytop edge of the rearward endof said cleat above the path of said cleat-pushing elements thereby topreclude the possibility of a cleat-pushing element engaging-two cleatsat a time, and said side and end guides being formed to allow the weightof said stack of cleats to bear upon the bottom cleat of said stack asit is moved from beneath said stack whereby to cause said bottom cleatto move into full contact with said cleat supporting means after itclears said supporting surface.

4. Cleat feeding apparatus for feeding cleats to a stapling machinehaving cleat-pushing elements moving along a path and a track parallelto said path for supporting cleats moved by said elements, incombination, upstanding side guides holding against lateral movementcleats stacked above and aligned with said track, an upstanding endguide for preventing forward movement of all but the bottom of saidstack of cleats, whereby as successive cleat-pushing elements engagesuccessive bottom cleats said cleats are pushed from beneath the stackand along said track, a cleat-supporting surface positioned above saidtrack rearward of the vertical center line of said stack of cleats andbelow the path of said cleat-pushing elements for maintaining the rearl`ward end of the bottom cleat of the stack above said track while leavingits forward end on the no, u'

nud track, thereby to cause the successive cleat-pushing elements toengage the ends of the successive bottom cleats below the top edgesthereof, and said side and end guides being formed to allow the weightof said stack of cleats to bear upon the bottom cleat of said stack asit is moved from beneath said stack whereby to cause said bottom cleatto move into full contact with said cleat supporting means after itclears said supporting surface.

5. For use in apparatus for feeding asymmetrical, similarly oriented,cleats to a box-making-machine having cleat-supporting means andcleat-moving and spacing elements, in combina.- tion, mechanism locatedadjacent said cleatsupporting means for stacking and unloading rackssupporting crosswise thereon similarly oriented cleats, said racks beingnarrower than the cleats, said mechanism including a rear rack supportand a forward rack stop, a conveyer extending beneath said rack supportand rack stop and open below said rack for conveying forwardlysuccessive layers of cleats deposited thereon by successive racksdropping therepast, said conveyer and the cleats thereon supporting theforward end of the rack directly above, whereby as said conveyer movesthe last cleat received from the preceding rack from under the forwardend of the rack supported by the cleat, the forward end of the rackdrops free through said conveyer to deposit on the conveyer the cleatscarried by the rack.

DAVID G. KINGSLEY. CLIFFORD J. MACNAMARA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,031,481 Snyder July 2, 19121,364,990 Gwinn Jan. 11, 1921 1,463,727 Shellenberger July 31, 19231,696,715 Huddleston Dec. 25, 1928 2,092,773 Nordquist Sept. 14, 19372,378,948 Pacton June 26, 1945

